Hey! Thank you for coming back!
So, believe it or not, this little story is almost finished! I'm thinking chapter 14 will be the last, and then I'll start posting the medieval one that I'm calling… drum roll please… The Black Knight's Bride! I'm still excited that the title I wanted, no one else is using! I'm hoping to post chapter one of it before I post the last chapter of Lightening Bugs!
Then, yes, I started another one. it's meant to be a one shot, and it's plotting itself to be a multi-chapter mafia thing. Yeah, I still don't know where it's going. Lol...
I need to thank Tracy and Notanislander. Tracy is my nurse who helped me more than she knows. Notanislander for making sure it all still made sense.
And you for coming back! Let me know what you think! Thank you!
"Can I have something to drink?" Rey whispers. Her throat is so dry that she can't speak any louder. She glances around the room and even though she's so tired, she has to smile when she sees her dad sleeping in the chair beside her.
"Yes honey," Delly the night nurse murmurs as she comes around the bed. She does something that Rey can't see, but is rewarded with a little cup and a straw. The ice-cold water has to be the best she's ever tasted. "Slow down, love. You don't want to choke with what Dr. Imwe did." Rey doesn't say anything but wrinkles her forehead in question. "All I'm going to say is, don't look it up on YouTube. I did it once, and it almost made me sick and I'm a nurse. And don't be asking that cute husband of yours either. How long have you two been married?"
"Not long. A couple of weeks?" Rey whispers. "We eloped."
"That is so sweet and romantic. My boyfriend, Thom, is deployed. He's supposed to be back soon, but they keep extending his deployment. I'm starting to feel like he's never coming home."
"That would stink."
"It does," Delly says. "My shift is almost over. They'll probably move you to a regular room this morning."
"Do you know if Ben- Dr. Solo is still here? In a room I mean."
"Was that your mama with him?'' Delly waits for Rey to nod. "They just left the floor about an hour ago. I can check-"
"No," Rey murmurs as she shakes her head. "Let him rest. I'll call Mama after while."
"Or I can go check on them," Daddy grunts as he gets to his feet. "I need to walk around anyway."
"If you're sure?" Rey asks. When Tobias nods, she adds, "Can you check on Leia and Wyatt?"
"Sure thing. You close your eyes and try to get some more rest," he suggests.
"Alright," she mutters, her eyes already closed. "Tell Ben that I love him-"
He's still not sure how long he actually slept, but he hears someone talking. His grunt must have been louder than he realized because she softly asks, "Dr. Solo. How's your head?"
His eyes refuse to open at first and it takes him a minute but he slowly opens them. "Much better, thank you." The last twenty-four hours rush back. "I have to get up-"
"Son," Han begins and Ben meets his eyes. The sky outside the window behind Han's head tells Ben that dawn approaches. And he can tell that his dad is worried. "Rey woke up for like a minute then went right back to sleep. Tobias came to check on you and Wyatt. And Ami left when I got here."
"Why is Rey in ICU?" He asks, his mind blanking from the day before.
"Dr. Imwe had to remove her spleen. It ruptured in the wreck."
"That's why her pulse was so faint," Ben whispers. "I'm starting to remember now."
"Dr. Imwe is waiting for her to wake up. Then she can be moved."
"How's Wyatt?"
"They are keeping him in ICU and sedated."
The nurse meets his eyes and he can just tell that she doesn't like the sound of that like he does. "I know it's for the best, but I hate the thought of him being sedated for days."
"Leia's with him."
"Do I get to go home today?" He asks the nurse.
"Dr. Hux signed your discharge papers before he left."
"And yes, I brought you a change of clothes." Han rubs his face. He looks tired, maybe as tired as Ben feels.
"Well good. As soon as I can walk across the room and take a shower, I'm going to go see my wife and son. Who's with Jack?"
"Nana Padme. Tobias left about thirty mins ago to get some rest, so no one is with Rey. Ami and Tobias will probably be back later."
"And she's still not awake yet?" Ben asks, his worry making him anxious.
"There was internal bleeding besides her spleen being ruptured. That's why she's in ICU," Han says.
"Can you help me, Dad? I need-" Ben grunts as he struggles to sit up.
"Of course, Son." He takes Ben's hand. And with Han on one side, and the nurse on the other, they help Ben into the shower.
"Mrs. Skywalker?" The nurse pats Nana's hand. "Are you alright? Do I need to call someone for you?"
Nana blinks slowly into the young lady's eyes. "I dozed off. How long was I asleep? Is my grandson alright?"
"I'm not sure how long you were asleep," The nurse replies. Nana looks at her name tag and sees that it reads Primrose. "We have to check Wyatt's vitals every hour because of the medicine he's being given and you were asleep the last time I was in here."
"Go ahead and do what you need to," Nana encourages. "My daughter should be back soon-"
"Or his father," Ben says from the doorway. His nurse told him to use his wheelchair while he was visiting his wife and son in the ICU since he's still wobbly on his feet. Han pushes him into the room.
"Ben," Nana whispers, jumping up. It only takes three steps for her to reach his side and when she does they both hug.
"I thought you were with Jack?" Ben asks. "What time did you get here?"
"Leia came home a couple of hours ago? Around four? She knew I wanted to come here to check on everyone, so she told me to go on to the hospital. When she comes back, she'll bring Jack back with her."
"I need to see him too," Ben adds.
"He's always loved his Nana," Han says to Primrose.
"Grandparents are wonderful people," Primrose says. "We normally don't allow this many people in the ICU, but since it's just Wyatt and a-" Prim looks down at her clipboard even though everyone else in the room could tell her who the other person is, she says, "Rey Solo. Wait, is Wyatt's mother also here too?" She looks from the boy in the bed to Ben and her eyes get watery. "The wreck- your family was in the bad wreck in Biltmore?"
"That was us," Ben agrees. "It could have been a lot worse. Wyatt, here and my wife, Rey were sitting where the truck hit us."
"Well Wyatt seems like he's a little trooper. Hopefully we can get both of their tubes out and into a step-down room."
"That's some of the best news I've heard in days." Ben says, relieved. "Dad, can you stay with Wyatt? I want to go check on Rey."
"Do you need-" Han begins but Ben rolls himself next door to Rey's room.
Ben pauses in the doorway. Rey's awake and she has more color in her cheeks than she had last night. She's looking out the window and doesn't see him as he sits and watches her. The squeak of his wheelchair makes her jump. She turns her head and their eyes meet. "Ben? Are you real?"
"Yes, sweetheart. Are you in pain?" He steers his chair closer to the bed.
"I can't believe you're here. I dreamed about you all night," she whispers, reaching for his hand. He captures hers in his and kisses her knuckles. "I was looking for you but I couldn't find you though."
"I'm here now." He brings her hand and cups his cheek with it. "I'm not leaving you again except to check on Wyatt."
Her thumb caresses his lips. "How is he?"
"He has a chest tube. He's five," his voice cracks. "They are keeping him sedated so he won't tear out the tube." Rey wipes his tears as they trail down his cheeks.
"When can they take the tube out?"
"When his lungs are working normally again. They should let you go to a normal room today and maybe discharge you tomorrow."
"How's Jack?"
"He's with Mom. They'll be back later."
"Bless them." Her eyes drift closed like she can't hold them open anymore. "Go check on Wyatt, Honey."
"You called me Honey," he says. For the first time since they got here, he smiles a real smile.
"Is that alright?" she asks. Her eyes are still closed but she's trying to open them.
"I love it," he kisses her knuckles again like a love-sick knight ready to slay the dragon for her.
"I love you, but right now, Wyatt needs you."
'I'll be back soon."
"I know," she says as she opens her eyes. "Go check on our baby boy."
He knows that she has been given some pain medicine, but he also knows her well enough that he knows that she means it.
And his heart soars.
"I love you," she whispers.
"I love you," he echoes. He backs his wheelchair to the door where Han waits. "Is he-"
"He's trying to wake up. Wasn't sure if you wanted to try to talk to him-"
Nana waits out in the hallway as Han rolls Ben back into Wyatt's room.
"Dr. Solo, I'm going to flush his tube. Do you-"
"I'm going to take Nana home, since you're up and feeling better." Han squeezes Ben's shoulder.
"Alright, I'll see you after while?"
"Yes, I'll be back later." Han kisses the top of Ben's head before he leaves.
He watches Primrose prep before he asks, "Do you mind if I watch? Don't worry, it's not in a professional capacity at all. It's more of a worried dad who knows too much."
"Of course," she mutters, scooting over so he can roll over next to her. She lines up everything she'll need while he pulls himself to stand by her.
"How long have you worked here?" he asks. He learned a long time ago that if he can get the nurses to talk about themselves, they relax a lot faster.
"A couple of years? I started right after I graduated."
"Where did you go to nursing school?"
"Oh, just here at ABtech. I'm working on my bachelors at Western Carolina. Where did you go for medical?"
"Pre-med was Charlotte, then I finished up at Duke."
"Nice. What's your practice?"
"GP. But I'm working two days a week in the ER." Prim pushes the last of the saline and they both breathe a little easier. "No blood."
"No blood," Prim repeats. "I'll let Dr. Kalonia know. Hopefully we can do x-rays, and get your boy out of here."
Ben eases himself back into the wheelchair. "I like that idea."
"Have you been home yet?"
"I have not, I was just discharged."
"Well hopefully you can take them home soon to sleep in your own beds." Prim picks up her trash. "Dr. Kalonia should be around soon. I'll let her know-"
"Thank you."
She nods and leaves the room. Now that it's just him and Wyatt, he lowers the bedrail. As much as wants to hold him, he tries to be content with simply touching his hand.
"Dr. Solo," Dr. Kalonia says as she comes into the room.
"How is he?"
"I should be asking you?"
"No, you first," Ben says.
"I think he's healing as quickly as he can. I want to bring in the x-ray machine and check his lungs. Then hopefully we can remove the tube."
"That's what I was hoping you'd say," Ben agrees.
"How are you?"
"Tired. I wish I could just take everyone home."
"Hopefully tomorrow."
"Today would be better, but I know we all need more rest before we go."
"Wisdom, Dr. Solo, will get you far in this profession," Dr. Kalonia says. "Do you need anything?"
"I'm alright. Thank you for asking."
"I'll be back after radiology does the x-rays."
"Thank you," Ben says as the other doctor exits the room. As soon as he turns his attention back to his son, his phone starts buzzing in his pocket. "Dad must have found my phone," he mutters as she digs it out of his pocket. When he sees who's calling, he answers, "You found my phone."
"The EMTs brought it to us. They figured you might need it. Anyway, I'm taking Nana home to our house, instead of hers. We'll be back once everyone has rested and showered and napped. I'll bring food when I come back."
"Thanks Dad. Wyatt's doctor ordered x-rays to see if we can take his chest tube out. If they can, then they'll start waking him up to go home."
"That's great news. I'm ready for all of you to be home."
"We're ready to be home too."
"Dr. Solo?" A voice from the doorway wakes Ben up. He turns his wheelchair. An older gentleman is standing in the doorway. "I'm Bert from radiology-"
"Come on in," Ben wheels himself towards the door. "If you'll let me get out of your way, you can do what you came to do.
"Thank you, I think one of the nurses needs to talk to you also."
"Good thing I'm going towards the nurse's station."
They must have had a shift change while he was asleep because Primrose is gone and he doesn't recognize any of these nurses. "Dr. Solo?" One of the nurses approaches him. He nods, and she continues, "My name is Annie and I'm your wife's nurse. While Bert is in with Wyatt, can we go see your wife?"
"That's actually where I was headed."
"Excellent. Can I help you with your chair?"
"You can, thank you," he says. Annie's firm grip pushes him into Rey's room. Hazel green eyes meet h is with a weak smile on her face.
"There's my handsome doctor."
"There's my beautiful wife," he whispers back. She does look better. There's even more color in her cheeks and she's not shaking when she reaches out for him. He grabs her hand and says, "She has something to tell us."
"Good news I hope?" Rey answers.
"It is," Annie says. "Dr. Imwe says that Mrs. Solo can go into a step-down room. Then hopefully, tomorrow she can go home."
"I do like those words." Rey smiles at him.
"I like them too," he answers, bringing her hand up so he can kiss her knuckles.
"We don't know what room she'll be in yet, they are still working on it." Annie says.
"That's fine, just let me know, so I can call my parents," Rey says.
"Of course," Annie says. "Dr. Solo, do you need me to help you back?"
"Is Bert still in there?"
"He is," Annie replies.
"I can wait with my Rey."
"You're being sweet, Doctor Solo," Rey says with a grin.
"For you, always," he coos.
"You two are too sweet. How long have you been married?" Annie chuckles as she asks.
"A couple of weeks," Rey answers with a grin.
"Really?" She squeaks. "Congratulations! I'm going to go check on Wyatt while you two visit." Annie pauses before she goes out into the hallway. "Rey? Would you like for me to check to see if you can visit Wyatt too before you go?"
She meets Ben's eyes. "Whatever Ben thinks. I'd love to."
"We'll ask Dr. Imwe. He might not want you sitting up in a chair until tomorrow," Ben says. "I know I want the two of you better."
"We will be soon. How's Wyatt?"
"His chest tube is clear. Bert from radiology is actually doing chest x-rays to see if we can take it out."
"That's great. When the tube comes out, can he go into a regular room, too? Do you think they would put us in the same room?"
"I'm not sure, I can ask."
"Why are you in a wheelchair? I thought you were alright."
"I'm still a little dizzy. Hux heavily recommended the chair."
"Did you get any sleep last night?" She asks as she tries to turn towards him. He doesn't miss how her eyes flutter shut at what could only be the pain from the wreck and surgery.
He manages to get to his feet. "Ben?" She whispers as he reaches for her.
"I'm going to help you. Grab my arm." She wraps her hands around his forearm. "You just hang on, I'll be doing the turning." Somehow, even as wobbly as he still is, he turns her on her side. "How's that?"
"Much better. These beds are awful!"
"They are," he agrees.
"Dr. Solo? I'm done with Wyatt," Bert says from the doorway.
Ben turns his wheelchair. "Thank you. Is he still asleep?"
"Yes."
"Ben?" Rey asks. "Can you call Poe?"
"Of course. Are you worried about the girls?"
"I think Mom and Dad were going to go by, I'm not sure. I'm glad school's out so they don't have to worry about that too."
"I'm back," Annie chimes from the doorway.
"With good news I hope?" Rey asks.
"Of course. They're here to take you to your new room and as soon as they remove the tube from Wyatt, he'll be joining you."
"Daddy?"
"I'm right here, son,'' Ben replies as he sits on the side of Wyatt's bed. Rey was in the room first, then they brought Wyatt. Since they put them in the mother and baby wing, the room was extra big and even had a queen-sized bed in it. Leia brought Jack, who wanted to stay, but Ben explained that they would be home tomorrow. Only then, would he leave with Leia. Poe brought the girls by for a quick visit too. They were only willing to go if they could be home when Ben brought Rey and Wyatt.
Right now, though, it's just Ben, Rey and Wyatt.
"How are you feeling?" Rey asks Wyatt. She's moving slowly as she crosses the room to sit in the rocking chair beside Wyatt's bed.
"I don't know-" he answers, blinking slowly as he looks around the room.
"Do you know where you are?" she asks. No words as he shakes his head. "There was an accident. We're at the hospital.
"Am I sick?" Wyatt asks, his bottom lip quivers, a sign that he's about to cry.
"No, Son,'' Ben soothes. "Actually, you're almost all better. The doctor thinks that you'll be able to go home tomorrow."
Wyatt looks down and notices that he and Rey are both wearing matching gowns while Ben is in regular clothes. "Why do me and Rey have on the same clothes?"
"Because we're special," Rey says as she winks at him. "Are you hungry? Lala brought some chicken soup."
"And fish crackers?" Wyatt asks.
"Of course, she brought those," Ben adds.
"I can't believe I almost lost you two," Ben murmurs against her temple. Wyatt's back asleep while Ben and Rey are curled up together in the labor and delivery bed.
"I know what you're doing."
"What?"
"I can't stop watching him either," she whispers. "I don't want that to happen again."
"We'll get one of those conversion vans, you know all steel and stuff. And wrap everyone in bubble wrap before we go anywhere." Rey chuckles and then grunts. "You think I'm kidding, I'm actually being quite serious."
"I believe it." She turns her head and their lips meet in a tender kiss. "Go to sleep, Dr. Solo."
"You, too, Mrs. Solo."
"Easy, Mama's still sore," Rey murmurs as Juniper and Greer hug her tight. She feels Greer loosen her grip, but she adds, "You can still hug me, just don't jump on top of me. At least not for another two weeks."
"Ok, Mama," she says in a tiny voice that Rey can barely hear.
"Were you two scared?" Rey asks. Juniper exhales a harsh breath and immediately Rey can feel her start to shake. "Juni-bug, we're alright now. I'm home, Wyatt's home, Ben's here somewhere." She presses a kiss to Juniper's head then Greer's.
"Daddy prayed for you every night," Juniper sobs into her shoulder.
"Well that must be why Wyatt and I are all better, all that praying everyone was doing." It doesn't take long for another little body finds them. Jack comes up and tries to hug all three of them. "I missed you too, Jack."
He doesn't say anything as she wipes the tears from his eyes. The other two men in her life must have followed him, because Ben comes to join her on the couch with Wyatt joining the pile of kids. Somehow, between her lap and Ben's, none of the kids are touching the couch or the floor.
"What are you-" Leia starts and Rey can hear Han's phone clicking.
"Cuddling," Rey answers. Before anyone can say anything, the doorbell rings. "That might be Mom and Dad. They were coming over."
"Let me answer that," Han volunteers.
Rey lays her head on Ben's shoulder, enjoying being home, when a voice she hasn't heard in over a decade or more echoes through the house.
"Where are my boys at?" Bazine calls from the front door.
This is fanfic…I don't think they'd actually put them in the same room, but for the sake of aww moments and fluff, I did. And I think Ben would want his family all together.